Tahoe-area avalanche buries skiers, 911 caller says

A search and rescue team and police are responding to a report that an avalanche near Donner Summit late Tuesday morning struck a group of backcountry skiers, with several missing and possibly buried, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said.

The reported slide occurred in the area of Castle Peak, across I-80 from the Boreal ski resort, police said.

Avalanche-risk in the region was rated high Tuesday by the Sierra Avalanche Center — the second-most-dangerous level below extreme.

Castle Peak, a craggy 9,100-foot summit, is a popular location for backcountry skiing.

The report came amid a blizzard that closed I-80 in both directions through the Sierra on Tuesday morning and into the afternoon.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about 11:30 a.m. reporting an avalanche with people buried, Ashley Quadros, a department spokesperson, told the Associated Press.

The sheriff’s office and its search and rescue team, plus a crew from Cal Fire responded to the report, Quadros said.

Check back on this developing story.